An End to the Hostile Takeover!!

Yes, boys and girls, you heard me--the hostile takeover of our beloved blog by the girls of Metrolina Regional Scholars' Academy (none of whom are mean or sneaky) has fianlly come to an end. And an honorable end it is, too, for boys AND girls. There's a reason for that, but, first, let's hear what Sophia has to say:

Stuart Little

Stuart Little is written by E.B. White and illustrated by Garth Williams. It is about allittle mouse who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Little of New York. Stuart makes alittle friend in Margalo, a bird. Then, suddenly, Margalo goes away. Stuart runs away frm home to find Margalo and...Well, I don't think I should tell you everything about this book. I think you would like it if you read it. It's definitely exciting and action- packed. You should read it.Stuart lives...ahem...in New York with his mom, dad, brother, and Snowbell, a cat.mI think that even if you'd pick it up, you'd soon be absorbed. I think the book is great. E. B. White writes great books. If you like this book, also catch The Trumpet of the Swan and also read Charlotte's Web.

P. S. Guys out there, Im NOT trying a hostile takeover; I'm only doing this to get new books. :)

Very good, Sophia! I read Staurt Little a long time ago and now you make me want to read it again! And I agree on Charlotte's Web. It's one of the best things you'll ever read. A teacher read to us in 5th grade; then I read it again a few years ago and it was just as good then as that unforgettable first time. I haven't read The Trumpet of the Swan, though. Have any of you? Did you lke it?

And I'm so glad that the takeover is gone at last. Boys and girls can read together in PEACE!!! Not only because Sophia is interested only in more books (a worthy goal!) but because there is now A BOOK BLOG FOR GIRLS!!! Yes, our friend and new coworker Ellen has started a new blog called Girls Read Girls Rule (the World). No doubt she was overwhelmed and awesturck by the greatness of the boys' blog, but she also saw a need for girls to have their own place. So we welcome our sister blog and wish them good luck. In fact, Sophia, I'll give Ellen two of your reviews that got earlier this week but was too busy to post. Always feel free to write to us again. And I sincerely apologize to you and any other girls if I said anything that made you angry or hurt your fellings--I didn't mean any of it and was just trying to have some fun.

All right. Hope to see everyone at WordPlay Saturday tomorrow. It will be a great and fun time!! Speaking of hostile takeovers, there are definite rumors that a certain Sith might try a hostile takeover of a certain Jedi's tent tomorrow. If the great and powerful CARLMAN isn't at the scene, I might depend on one of you to keep the peace!!

The CARLMAN

An Apology to Sophia and WordPlay Saturday

Well, now that Darth Bill has extended his hand in peace to Master Jedi Zack, we'll probably have a little quiet for a while. At least long enough for them (and you!) to read Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli and write about it. That gives me time to make an admission--I owe an apology to Sophia, one of the girls at Metrolina Regional Scholars' Academy who have tried the hostile takeover of our blog. I'd written about the mean and sneaky girls who attempted this vicious takeover but I met Spophia last Friday when I happened to be at MRSA and she is very nice. (Her friend Mary wasn't there but I found out that she's nice also) I felt bad for what I'd written, so I apologized to her then and apologize to all the girls at MRSA now. They are all very nice.

So why, then, do they want to attempt a hostile takeover of our blog? They're all so nice--why would they try to invade and conquer our beloved home? This puzzled me for a long time. Then I figured it out--they are so awestruck by the greatness of boys that they want to enter our territory and find out what makes us so great!! Of course!!! They are so amazed at all the books we've read and how good our reviews have been that they want to join us! Why, then, we welcome you!. Send in those reviews. The more you send, the more you'll be like us!! And, please, all you boys at MRSA and everywhere else, send in more reviews so that the girls will see how great and cool we truly are!!!!!

Let me take this opportunity to tell you about something really fun: our WordPlay Saturday here at Imaginon. It will be Saturday, October 11. There will be bands, activities, crafts, and lots of fun stuff. There will also be some authors who'll speak and answer questions and sign books, including Charles R. Smith, Jr., who writes poems about sports, and graphic novel author Josh Elder (who does Mail Order Ninja and The Batman Strikes). Click here and here to find out more and even see a video about it! The Book Brunch with the authors will be from 9:30 am--11:00 am, WordPlay will be from 11:00 am--4:00 pm, and the authors will sign books from 11:30 am--1:oo pm.

Hope to see you there,

Carl

The CARLMAN Speaketh!!

Guys! Guys!! Bill! Zack! This is Carl, the one who is to bring balance to the Force! All this bickering has got to stop!!! It's gotten so intense that one of readers has noticed. Here's what Anonymous said:

YO...We need a mediator here! OR are we waiting for the Great and all powerful NANNAH..... to step in!Certainly THE Carlman will save the day! Of course, if the guys want the most evil plan of the girls to succeed and allow them to divide and win........ I'm just saying........

OK, Anonymous, you are SO right! We need a mediator and that one is me. You've discovered my secret identity as The CARLMAN, so I'll step out of my disguise and reveal my true self and give you two the message--

Honestly, it wasn't this bad with Thor and Loki! And just when we need to stand united and fight off this hostile takeover by mean and sneaky girls! Therefore I will assign you both a task--you must read Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli. It's a book about cooperation between feuding enmies. Might teach you a thing or two. Then we'll all write a joint post about the book--and maybe also about Jerry Spinelli, one of the best guy writers ever! He also wrote Wringer and Fourth Grade Rats, two books that deal with peer pressure and doing the right thing, important issues for guys. (See my post of 8-11-07 to read reviews) Maniac Magee is even better and shows how one guy can make a big difference!

And have you guys out there read that book? Or any others by Jerry Spinelli? Tell us about them! Do it even before the three of us write our joint post. His books are great!
Or tell us about any other books you like. Do you have any books assigned for school? As long as you have to read them, why not tell us about them? Remember, the beloved Valhalla of our blog is under attack! We need every boy we can to write!

Meanwhile, you Sith and Jedi found some things to agree on, like Capt'n Eli and The 39 Clues, so keep the taunting to a minimum, huh? Even though the Darth Daffy was pretty funny---so was the Sith Spelling---and those hilarious insults!!! Ha, ha, aha ha ha!!! Wooeee!! Ummm, wait a minute, I'm supposed to bring balance to...oh, all right, if you have to jab each other, just keep it down, OK????????

THE CARLMAN HATH SPOKEN!!

The Bruner Boys Beware on Gary Paulsen, Evil Webkinz, and Old T-shirts

Hey, everyone, it's Carl and I was thrilled to see four new comments from the Bruner Boys Beware:

The Bruner Boys finished up THE RIVER. IT WAS DULL. Nothing DANGEROUS... just harrowing raft down a waterfall and a grownup struck by lightning into a coma. ALWAYS nice to see grown-ups get struck by lightning and zapped unconcious. We need some DANGEROUS BEASTS and HARROWING ESCAPES. We are looking for another read-aloud for family time today here at the Matthews library. Maybe the BONES book.

We are holding Master Zach hostage in the Millenium Falcon Mini-Van tomorrow until we get the second CAPTAIN ELI book from Darth Bill.

Austin is STILL wearing the shirt and drinking chocolate milk from the sacred cup. BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!Keagen gives two HUGE thumbs up to the Hardy Boys Graphic Novel Series. We almost snatched them all up so far and Keagen got one to KEEP at the book sale at Imaginon for only 50 CENTS!!!

By the way... Gary Paulsen has a book out about puberity... did you know... I am not sure we are BRAVE enough for that book... plus thinking about BODY ODOR and GIRLS is SOOOOOO THE DARK SIDE if you know what I mean.

BRUNER BOYS BEWARE!

DUDE! We read this book and LOVED IT!!! We especially liked it because we started a lawn mowing business this summer... I DO HAVE TO SAY... we agreed that having a RIDING MOWER will make you MORE RICH and LESS CRANKY... because ours is a push mower and we think it STINKS! BUT we are hoping to get RICH.GOOD BOOK!

NEW SHIRTS! Should we tell Austin?!?! AND I have run across some VERY DANGEROUS and VICIOUS webkinz... one is the PINK POODLE... BEWARE!!! This one was especially hard to stop with the FORCE.... we had to resort to the DROID DECAR thingy.

BTW!!! Did you know MASTER JEDI ZACH is an EAGLE SCOUT? That is why he is a MASTER JEDI...

Outstanding work, Bruner Boys!! It's too bad that you didn't like The River but Lawn Boy sure was good, wasn't it? Funny!! And I didn't know the Hardy Boys Graphic novels would be so good. Now you've got me wanting one and I think all of ours are checked out!

Just to let you know, Zack is not only a Jedi but a Jedi Master and may be more tha you can handle, if it's only overnight! Never underestimate a Jedi master or an Eagle Scout!

Darth Bill is doing his best to get the second Capt'n Eli book out to everyone. Be patient. After all, as Darth Bill would say, the Death Star wasn't built in a day! And I'll let him comment on the best way to deal with evil webkinz--though I think a droid decar is a good idea. PS--Two weeks, same shirt? Yeah, a new shirt would definitely be a good idea!

That's four comments in one day! I don't know if you realize it, but you have just shot 4 major blasts at the mean and sneaky girls who have tried a hostile takover of our blog. If they are too low and underhanded to understand the goodness and generosity of boys, maybe they'll understand our overwhelming numbers!!

Oh, No! It's War Again!

OK, guys, we've got a MAJOR problem on our hands. These girls at the Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy, despite all our efforst to be kind, gentle, generous, and peaceloving, are still trying to take over our blog!!! Can you believe it?? The whole world stands shocked at the mean and sneaky girls who refused our offers of peace and brotherhood, even ignored our great compliment in saying that they acted like boys!! Well, then, there is only one thing to do---DEFEND OURSELVES!!!!!!

What--you don't believe me? Well, here is the proof from Mary, who read Sophia's review today:

This is a cool review. I think you should read Danny the Champion of the World and other Roald Dahl books, too.

By the way, I am Sophia's friend, also from Metrolina Regional Scholars' Academy, and she and some of my other friends from school are trying to do a hostile takeover!

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid was a great book, too! I really thought it was funny. There's a sequel to it, too. It's called Rodrick Rules. That book's good, too.

~Mary from Metrolina Regional Scholars' Academy (MRSA)
dONE!

Pretty good, Mary! A lot of kids have also talked about how much they liked the Diary of a Wimpy kids books and...Wait a minute, I almost forgot myself!! We're in the middle of a hostile takeover!! We need your help, guys!! Write in those reviews! All you boys at Metrolina Regional--are you going to let this happen?? And all you boys out there in blog land?? Will you help us in this time of need?? Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their blog!!

Defending the castle to the last stroke of the keyboard,

Carl

Now This Is More like It!

Yesterday I received two reviews from Sophia, a girl in the Fourth grade at Metrolina Regional Scolar's Academy. These were the same girls who tried the hostile takeover. When I got these reviews, however, there was no mention of a takeover; only three paragraphs about some good reads! She has obvioulsy accepted the olive branch of peace that the boys offered so generously in our bigness of our hearts. OK, we're glad you did, Sophia. Let's see what our friend wrote:

Danny the Champion of theWorld

Danny the Champion of the world is by Roald Dahl. It is about a little boy named Danny whose dad goes paoching one night. Poachng is when you go out into the woods and "steal" food for your families. Danny has only father; his mother died when he was four months old. Danny's father poaches pheasants and one day he falls in a hole and breaks his leg, then Danny has to go and rescue his dad. Then Danny and his father think up a way to poach two hundred birds at one time. This book will keep you on your toes, it has so much action in it. That is why I love it and think you all should read it.

James and the Giant Peach

James and the Giant Peach is, again, written by Roald Dahl. It is also about a little boy. His name is James. James' parents died when he was young, so he was sent to live with his horrible aunts. One day a little old man gives him a magical bag of something lucky and James hurries to dirnk this formula. Suddenly James spills the bag and the things go into an old peach tree that never produces peaches.

The next day, a peach starts growing. James crawls in and he finds giant insects inside. Then James goes off on adventures!! I LOVE this book, and I am urging you to read it! It has a lot of action in it.



These book reviews are again written by by Sophia, a girl in 4th grade at Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy.



Very well done, Sophia! You've REALLY made want to read the second book! Several boys have written before and talked about Danny, the Champion of the World. A lot of kids like it. (Go to the list of already-reviewed books on the left hand side of the page and see what other kids have said)

Now you see, everyone, this is as it should be! There was no mean and sneaky attempt to take over. She simply shared her love of readiing with all the rest of us. She did the right thing. In other words, she acted like a boy.



Isn't it wonderful?



Carl

Yo Ho Ho! The Bruner Boys Write In!

All hands on deck! This be Eyepatch Carl, the scurviest knave that ever blogged the Seven Seas! We've sighted a new ship and there seem to be a new group of friends on board, The Bruner Boys Beware! Step aboard, me lads and let's hear what ye have to say:

"AARRRRRRRRRRRR" Where is a pirates favorite place to eat? Arrrrrrrrrby's!

We loved this new book and especially liked the game!Even our girl-dubed-a-dude liked it. Austin has been wearing his Captain Eli shirt for 2 weeks straight now and Master Zach is begning to get scared I think. Well, we are finishing up THE RIVER, by Paulsen. We liked HATCHET because it is GRIPPING and DANGEROUS. THE RIVER is not really as exciting yet, but we are hoping for some NEAR DEATH experiences this week near the end. Maybe a 10 foot BEAR or something horrible like a BROKEN BONE.Austin is reading THE SUGAR CREEK GANG there is 60 of them in the series he says...hmmmm.We also finished reading Jake Maddox books from Imaginon including BOARD REBEL, GO KART RUSH, and BMX BUDDY. These are great Keg says and perfect for the errand trips in the car.SEE YOU LATER MATE-Y...

Did I mention that Austin is STILL wearing the shirt?!?! We returned the book to Master Zach on the vessel in Matthews... he was very glad to have received such a LOOT! ARRRRRRRRRRR.What is a pirates favorite letter of the alphabet? RRRRRRRRRRRRR.

Good work, me lads! Those jokes have got me slapping the wooden leg! Isn't the Capt'n Eli graphic novel truly cool? Haven't enjoyed a gn that much in a long time. And I like me Jake Maddox books and REALLY like some Gary Paulsen, especially Hatchet. Look at the post for March 2, 2008 to see the Jake Maddox reviews and July 19 and 20, 2008 posts for me reviews of Hatchet and Lawn Boy, another fine Paulsen book. Have ye ever read the graphic novel version of Treasure Island, the greatest pirate story ever? ARRRRRR, ye should! Go to me post of September 27, 2007 to read of it.

Glad to have ye aboard, mateys! Keep writing to us!

Sailing across the Spanish Main,

Eyepatch Carrrrrrrrl

Oh, No! A Hostile Takeover!

Hey, guys, this is Carl with some seriously bad news. I got a bunch of reviews from Mrs. Smith's fourth-grade class at Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy. What's bad about that? They were all from girls!!! Now we don't mind when girls write in, in fact, we're glad to hear from you, but this is a not just writing in--they said it was a hostile takeover! "We're taking over the Boys Read blog!" were their exact words. Are we going to stand by and let this happen, guys?? Especially you boys in Mrs. Smith's fourth grade? Let's stand up and defend this blog!!

Now I should explain that these reviews were written during a free study time. The boys weren't idle; they were busy making a light saber. That's a constructive use of time, building something to cut your enemies in half. But while they were working, the girls sneaked these reviews past them in a brazen attempt to take over!



Well, in all fairness, let's hear their reviews. After all, guys, we can take the moral high ground and let them know we are fair, even if they are trying to invade and conquer our space.

The Titan’s Curse

The Titan’s Curse is a very good book, the third one in the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan. Artemis, the goddess of the Hunt and the goddess of the Moon, goes in search of a terrible monster and gets captured by Luke and his army. Annabeth replaces Atlas’ weight of the sky. Atlas’ weight gets replaced by Luke, who tricks Annabeth into carrying the weight, then Artemis replaces Annabeth. Percy finds the Ophiothaurus, the monster, and names it Bessie. The person who destroys the Ophiotaurus has enough power to take down Mount Olympus. At the end of the book, Olympus comes to a decision—whether or not to destroy Bessie. Overall, I really liked this book. ~written by a girl! Sophia (ha!)


The Little Town in the Big Woods

I’m going to tell you a little bit about the Series Little Town in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder. It’s about a family that starts off in a big wood on the Indian territory. They’re pioneers, and travel all over the USA to find the perfect home for their growing family. Laura is the main character. She has an older sister named Mary and Ma and Pa are their mother and father, working hard to maintain their family and keep them happy. As Laura grows up, she meets Almonzo Wilder, and eventually gets married. When mary loses her vision and Ma has another girl, Grace, Laura has to take of them and focus on Almonzo at the same at the same time. Can she do both? It’s a relly nice series and I think you would like every single book in the series. ~Mary, Age 9

The City of Emeber
Recommendation

This is a book about a city underground. Lina, the main character, wants to be a messenger but the mayor draws that she would be in the pipeworks. Doon, her friend, wants ot be in the pipeworks, but the mayour draws messenger. So Doon asks Lina to trade with him and she agrees. They both go to the pipeworks and find a tunnel that leads them out from underground. ~Sydney, Joy, and Maria

OK, good work, ladies. You've actually made me want to read The City of Ember. And just to show that we hold no grudges against anyone, even those who try to over run our blog, we're going to bestow on you the greatest honor we can give and make you Honorary Guys, just as we did with Kaza Kingsley. No need to thank us; we know how grateful you must be. Not only that, but we will honor our commitment to give a free book to anyone who writes a review. You can go to the Imaginon library or the Matthews library to claim it. Now, in the face of such generosity, you should end your attempt at a hostile takeover. But if it doesn't, well, I'm sure there are lots of guys out there who'll be willing to write in their own reviews. In fact, are all you guys going to let us be outnumbered? Five girls just wrote to us; I bet we could get at least 5 or more boys to send in book reviews! Let's hear it, guys!!!

After all, don't forget that---

Boys Rule, Boys Read!!

PS--Don't forget, when you send a review, be sure to give the title, author, a little bit about what the book is about, and why you did or didn't like it. You can write about fiction, nonfiction, biography, paperbacks, or graphic novels.